Berea, Ky. – The Transylvania men's tennis team turned in one of its best efforts of the season, as it pushed the in-state rival Berea College Mountaineers to the limit before eventually falling 4-5 in the team's pro-style matchup on Monday night.
The match got off to a hotly contested start in the doubles competition, as the Mountaineers claimed both the No. 1 and No. 3 matches each by slimmest of margins at 9-8.
In No. 2 doubles, the team of juniors Eric Sandknop and Esteban Favetto dominated the pair from Berea, as they cruised to an 8-2 victory.
In No.1 singles Transylvania junior Luke Groene tied the matchup with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Zachary White.
Senior Eli Hack gave the Pioneers their closest victory of the day, as he slipped by Chris Malpartida with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 victory at No. 2 singles.
Transylvania then got a third straight victory, as Sandknop had little trouble claiming a 6-0, 6-0 decision in the No. 3 singles match.
Berea would then go on to claim victories in both No. 4 and No. 5 singles, setting up the pivotal final match. Freshman Daniel Cooper fell behind early, then fought back in the second set, before eventually falling in No. 6 singles 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Next up for the Pioneers will take on the Mt. St. Joseph Lions in their 2017 home opener. The match is set for a 4:00 p.m. start at the Lexington Tennis Club on Wednesday, April 5.
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Berea 5, Transylvania 4
Singles competition
1. Luke Groene (TU) def. Zachary White (BC) 6-0, 6-4
2. Eli Hack (TU) def. Chris. Malpartida (BC) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
3. Eric Sandknop (TU) def. Ethan Hughes (BU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Austin Worley (BC) def. Esteban Favetto (TU) 6-1, 6-
5. Avery Matthews (BC) def. J.T. Henderson (TU) 6-3, 2-6, 5-10
6. Michael Malpartida (BC) def. Daniel Cooper (TU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Zachary White / Austin Worley (BC) def. Luke Groene / Eli Hack (TU) 9-8
2. Eric Sandknop / Esteban Favetto (TU) def. Juan Chavez Cassiano / Isaac Domenech (BC) 8-2
3. Avery Matthews / Michael Malpartida (BU) def. J.T. Henderson / Daniel Cooper (TU) 9-8
